An expert in astrophysics, his outward calm and composure conceals a tough and unyielding fighting spirit. Also has an abundant knowledge of space, combining the two faces of disciplined soldier and experienced scientist. For this reason, he always wished to visit space not as a military man but as a man of science.

Crazy Awesome: His reaction to getting jumped on by two thousand ships led by Domel? Charge through the enemy fleet, ram Domel's flagship, shoot her at point blank to get her out of the way, and then continue on his course while the enemy ships are too shocked to try and stop him. The only reason it didn't work was that Domel had eight thousand other ships in reserve just in case this happened...

My Greatest Failure: Having to watch as Mamoru Kodai (Susumu's older brother) sacrificed himself so Okita could retreat at the start of the series. It's even worse in the 2199 remake, when Okita breaks radio silence to order Mamoru to disengage from battle.

Tactical Division Officer of Yamato. Leader of Tactical Group, Air Captain First Class. Born in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Was a third-class air captain assigned to the 7th strategic space group before boarding Yamato, but was advanced two classes and placed in command of the tactical division after his older brother Mamoru was killed in action. The main and secondary gun batteries, anti-aircraft guns, torpedoes, fighter wing, and wave-motion gun are all under his command. Deck officers are also placed under the tactical division. Graduated as an official cadet from space soldier training academy and was selected as a primary member of the Yamato Plan. (The forerunner of this was the Izumo Plan, a top secret mission to escape Earth.)

Number Two: Usually gets promoted to "Acting Captain" to make decisions on Okita's behalf as the Captain's condition worsens through the series.

Tragic Keepsake: He finds his brother's pistol in the wreck of his ship, crashed on Titan. In the 2012 reboot he He finds Mamoru's gun his brother's pistol in the hulk wreck of Yukikaze his ship, crashed on Enceladus.Titan.

Leader of ship affairs in charge of information, electronics, communications, coding, hull demagnetization. Air Captain First Class in charge of radar and radio communications on the first bridge. Was assigned to jurisdiction of the Far East 9th District Strategy Department before boarding Yamato. The planning division for the Yamato plan originated within 9th District Strategy Department.

Bridge Bunny: She is the officer with the task of the reading and interpretation of the radar's data.

Hospital Hottie: In the original series she was initially Dr. Sado's nurse.

Latex Space Suit: Her yellow jumpsuit. It is one of the earliest appearances in anime of this trope.

Ms. Fanservice: Yuki provides continuous Fanservice and is very fetching indeed in a yellow space suit that leaves so little to the imagination that it's hard to imagine it providing any protection against a stiff breeze, much less the vacuum of space.

Was a third-class air captain in the 101st regular space division before boarding Yamato, received a two-class promotion to chief navigator when the previous candidate was killed in action in a battle against Gamilas.

Hopeless Suitor: A rather tragic example in Yamato II (or the Comet Empire arc in Star Blazers): he falls in love with the Princess of Telezart, Trelaina, but she seemingly sacrifices herself to save the Yamato's crew from the Zordar in the second series' Grand Finale. The only grace he gets is his unconscious state during her death.

Red Oni, Blue Oni: The blue to Kodai's red in the original. In 2199, however, Shima actually becomes the red oni as Kodai's character matures.

The Lancer: In charge of moving the ship around so that Kodai can make it shoot.

Shiro Sanada (Stephen Sandor)

Officer of Yamato's technology division. First mate and technical head. His rank is Lieutenant Commander. Born in Nagano Prefecture.

Oversees scientific analysis, information analysis, development, and engineering. Other than the technology leader, he also holds the post of first mate to Captain Okita. As a genius who graduated at the top of MIT, his thinking is very logical and his analytical skills are unrivaled at assessing a situation. He advanced to the National Space Defense Academy after graduating from MIT, volunteered for UN Space Command and was assigned to the 9th Strategic Division. He is at the center of the Yamato Plan.

Flanderization: Completely averted with respect to Sanada's artificial limbs. It comes up in one episode and is never referred to again. Also (particularly in the original), although Sanada is highly intelligent and a brilliant inventor, he is not depicted as a Gadgeteer Genius. A large number of his ideas are actually clever uses of existing technology or based on salvaged Iscandarian, Gamilas or Comet Empire technology. He also leaves anything relating to the biological sciences to Dr. Sado.

Analyzer UO-9 (IQ-9)

Official name: R-9 Autonomous Type Shipborne Analysis Unit. An improvement over the conventional AU-08, boards Yamato as "crew in charge of analysis" to act as a subframe robot in support of the mainframe.

A quantum computer with autonomous thinking and behavior that allows him to act as a general-purpose class system node analysis terminal. Equipped with an AI system installed with BIOS judgement rather than a simulated personality. Hates to be referred to by number, refers to self as "Analyzer."

What Measure Is a Non-Human?: usually played for laughs due him asking Sado for how to become more human (once resulting in him going in mission DRUNK), but there's a very sad episode showing the contrast between his robotic body and his very human feelings for Yuki.

Officer in the UN Cosmo Navy. Susumu Kodai's older brother. When he graduated from the Space Soldier Academy, the war situation was worsening and talented people were being lost one after another. He was made the young captain of a destroyer. He lost his parents in a planet bomb attack, and his only remaining blood relative is his younger brother.

Babies Ever After: Has a daughter, Sasha Kodai with Starsha. She later also serves on the Yamato.

I Choose to Stay: Throws away his only chance to go home to stay with Starsha in the end.

Leader Abelt Dessler (Desslok)

The Great Emperor of Planet Gamilas. He is the equivalent of 32 Earth years of age.

Leader of the Imperial Planet Gamilas' interstellar military nation, which expands his galactic territory. Although he is a young and arrogant dictator, he has awoken to the needs of his people. As head of state, he is the supreme commander of the Gamilas military and directs strategic operations at his whim, enjoying it as a game.

Affably Evil: He has his moments where he seems to be just a charming, polite, and cultured character.

Chessmaster: Literally invoked in 2199, as he seems to enjoy playing chess with Starsha.

Cool Ship: Always manages to get one in all of his appearances, and all of them have a Wave Motion Gun, just like the Yamato.

Dueltothe Death: Does it with Kodai and Yamato, twice over the original series. It ends badly for him the first time when Sanada pulls a last second save by activating a secret weapon to reflect his Wave Motion Gun. The second time, he famously pulls a FaceHeel Turn and lets the crew go out of respect and even gives them a hint on how to beat the Bigger Bad of the series.

Death by Adaptation: Unlike in the original series, Dessler is apparently killed off in 2199. Emphasis on apparently, because a freeze-frame shot of his ship before it blows up might tell you an entirely different story...

The Dragon: To Zordar and the Comet Empire in series 2. He doesn't mind this for the most part and is primarily driven for revenge against the Yamato.

The Dreaded: Becomes one in the second season. His message congratulating the Yamato for annihilating the Comet Empire fleet detached with him caused the crew a massive Oh, Crap! moment.

Emperor Scientist: In the original series, he's smart enough to use Gamilas' own acid rain weather against the ship. Not to mention the matter-destroying ecto gas in season one and the energy-sapping space starflies/bacteria in season 2.

Even Evil Has Loved Ones: He actually has an extended family, through his younger brother's marriage. It's revealed in 2202.

Faking the Dead: In 2199 his ship is sabotaged and blown up in a coup early on, we see him on board... And it's later revealed it was a Body Double, with Dessler having got wind of the coup and wishing to see who was behind it so he could crush the traitors.

Fountain of Expies: The prototype of most Anime alien leaders and enemy aces, Dessler is created form the images of Roman nobles.

A Glass of Chianti: Seen most of the time drinking a glass of space wine, even when in battle.

HeelFace Turn: Pulls this one off at the very end of the second series and becomes a valued ally of the Yamato's crew afterwards.

Made of Iron: In between the first season and the second one, he survives in deep space, alone, WITHOUT A SPACE SUIT on until he gets rescued.

My God, What Have I Done?: Has a minor freakout when he realizes he just shot one of his most loyal officers after she unintentionally omits her psychic abilitys on him upon seeing him alive, catching him off guard.

Single-Target Sexuality: Despite being surround by all a all female Honor Guard. Queen Starsha is the woman he shows any romantic affection for.

Took a Level in Badass: Slightly, in Season 3 of the original series. By that time, after liberating Planet Garumman from the Bolar Federation, he gets declared an Emperor and manages to control a sizeable chunk of territory in the galaxy.

Villainous Breakdown: When the Yamato is led into a trap on Gamilas itself, only to escape again. He only spirals deeper and deeper into his megalomania from there.

Wave Motion Gun: He has his own version, called the Dessler Cannon. Surprisingly enough, it seems to be cursed to keep missing or not do its job for various reason until Season 3 of the original series.

In 2199 his goal is to establish eternal peace in the galaxy, and to reach this goal he conquered the two Magellanic Clouds and is expanding in the Milky Way (the current war in the Small Magellanic Cloud isn't part of this as Gamilas is the defending side).

General Erwk Domel (Lysis)

Military defense commander of the Great Gamilas Empire, Small Magellanic Cloud. Rank is Lieutenant General. The equivalent of 38 Earth years of age.

A famous general of Gamilas admired by enemy and ally alike as "The Wolf of Space." He is dispatched from the Small Magellanic Cloud as a measure against the barbarians which repeatedly invade the imperial domain. While commanding the forces of the Small Magellanic Cloud, he takes up the defense of the front lines.

His 6th Space Armored Division is called the "Domel Army Corps," whose mobility gives them a striking power like a blast of wind. Their unity is said to be the best in all of Gamilas. Rather than striking directly at an enemy, they divide them and force a surrender, making full use of driving tactics.

Domel is adored by his subordinates and has a noble-minded personality. He holds ability in high regard and does not discriminate against those he conquers. He has the chivalrous soul of a knight and honors an opponent who does their best. Domel's main duty is that of a military officer, and though he keeps his distance from politics, he is a close associate of Dessler and enjoys national popularity. There are also many who do not admire him.

Captain Ersatz: Of Rommel, he's known as a tactical genius and nicknamed "Wolf of the Galaxy". Like Rommel, Domel was also known as a man of good character, especially when compared to the usual Nazi commanders.

Crazy Awesome: Especially in the original series, where his reaction to the Yamato reaching his headquarter is to throw an artificial sun at them.

Hero of Another Story: a curious villain example. When he first appears, he just returned from the front against another unidentified enemy (revealed to be the Comet empire in 2199), and apparently defeated it so completely he's being hailed as an hero by the Gamilas people and Deslar himself. From the Gamilas point of view, HE is the hero.

Senseless Sacrifice: He tries it to give a sense to the sacrifice of his men, died in the attempt to destroy the Yamato... But the Yamato survives again.

Spared by the Adaptation: In Star Blazers, instead of suicide bombing his flagship, he places a bomb under the Yamato and explains that it will go off after he leaves. The animation depicts this by showing the flagship attachment to the underside in reverse. Lysis (Domel) and Volgar are seen after the big explosion lamenting that the bomb failed to destroy the Argo and he has to return to Gamilon in defeat.

Iskandar

Queen Starsha

Queen Starsha

Queen of Planet Iscandar. Holds out a helping hand to Earth, which has been driven to the verge of extinction by Gamilas. Entrusted her younger sister Ulyssia with a message to deliver to Earth one year ago; the plan for the Wave-Motion Engine. Her sister Sasha delivered the next message.

Comet Empire

Emperor Zowrdar (Prince Zordar)

Card-Carrying Villain: Although he was cruel about it, Desslok actually had reasons for his actions in the first season, finding a new home for his people. Zordar is just a sadistic conqueror and thoroughly enjoys it.

Woolseyism: Arguably in Star Blazers, Sabera (called Invidia) is made Zordar's daughter instead of his consort. Zordar looked old enough to be her father. However, in Star Blazers, she was still clearly fooling around with General Dire who looked Zordar's age.

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